Ben Stokes opens up about dealing with news of his father diagnosed with brain cancer
England all-rounder Ben Stokes had to depart for his country of birth New Zealand midway through the Test series against Pakistan. Although the reason was not clear at the time, with the England and Wales Cricket Board stating it due to ‘family reasons’ news emerged that his father, former New Zealand rugby player Gerard Stokes had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Last year, Stokes Sr. had to be admitted to a hospital in Johannesburg ahead of England’s Boxing Day Test match against South Africa. It was reported that he suffered from a brain bleed which required surgery. The cancer diagnosis was made on his return to New Zealand.
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Stokes Sr. spoke about his diagnosis to the New Zealand Herald, saying, “They had to assess how I travelled (to South Africa) and from that, they discovered I had a couple of tumours on my brain as well. So, basically brain cancer. How that came about nobody knows but obviously I’ve had a few bangs on my head through my life so that’s probably contributed to it.”
Ben Stokes’ father Ged served both as a rugby player and coach
Ben Stokes had to go through an ordeal during the first Test against Pakistan, which hosts England won by 3 wickets, after receiving the dreaded news. The England vice-captain told the Weekend Herald, “I didn’t sleep for a week and my head wasn’t really in it. Leaving was the right choice from a mental point of view.”
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Stokes spoke about the role of his father and his stature as a sports personality over the years. He said, “He was tough (on me). But as I got older, I realised it was all for a reason. He knew I wanted to be a professional sportsman and he was drilling that into me as I started to make a career in cricket.
“His reputation sort of speaks for itself. You speak to anyone who knows him, played with him or worked with him, they’d all say the same thing. Most people acquire a softer side with age and sometimes with dad that has been quite weird to see. What he’s going through has brought that side out as well; we all knew he had it, he just didn’t show it that often.”